Surname Davisson - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Davisson: What does the surname Davisson mean?
The surname Davisson is of patronymic origin, formed from the personal name David. Traditionally, surnames of this type are based on the first name of a male ancestor. The suffix "son" denotes "son of," implying that a person named Davisson is theoretically the "son of David." The name David, from the Hebrew name Dawid, means "beloved." Hence, Davisson could be interpreted as "son of the beloved." This name has variants such as Davidson and Davison in English-speaking countries. It's important to note that while this is the theoretical meaning, people bearing this surname today may not necessarily have a direct male ancestor named David, as surnames can be inherited in numerous ways. Moreover, the meaning might not have significant relevance to the individual or their family today.
Order DNA origin analysisDavisson: Where does the name Davisson come from?
The surname Davisson is of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name David, meaning "beloved". The suffix "-son" indicates "son of David". While it maintains a much more substantial presence in English-speaking countries, the surname Davisson can actually be found worldwide today due to migration and the spread of culture. However, it is most prevalent in the United States, as well as common to a lesser extent in England, Canada, and Australia. The surname is more concentrated in the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana within the United States. The Davisson surname has undergone various spelling alterations over the centuries, translating to different variations such as Davison, Davidson, Davids, Davies, Davie, Daves, and others.
Variations of the surname Davisson
The surname Davisson originated from the personal name David, which has been a popular first name among Jews, Christians and Muslims. Variants of the surname Davisson include Davidson, Davison, Daveson, Davys, Davids, Devison, D'avis, Davitson and Dietz. There are also several phonetically similar surnames such as Davison and Davidsen. Spellings may also depend on regional differences. For instance, in Scotland and northern England, it is commonly spelled as Davidson while in south, it is Davison.
The surnames Davis, Davies, and Davie, are also derived from the same source, but do not contain the "son" suffix which indicates "son of David". Davis is more commonly found in southern England and Wales, while Davies is more prevalent in Wales. Some of the surnames derived from David found in Europe include Daividaitis and Davidov, Daividaitis being Lithuanian while Davidov is found in Slavic-speaking nations.
The ways this surname has evolved over time and across regions demonstrates the influence of linguistics and traditions on surnames. Overall, despite the variety in spelling and pronunciation, all these surnames have the same root, the personal name David.
Famous people with the name Davisson
- Clinton Davisson: An American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1937 for his discovery of electron diffraction.
- Jim Davisson: An accomplished banjo artist known for his bluegrass and folk music.
- Brad Davisson: A recognized guitarist and vocalist for the Davisson Brothers Band, a country rock group from West Virginia.
- Richard Davisson: Musician and a member of the Davisson Brothers Band.
- Don S. Davisson: An American actor best known for playing General Hammond in the television series "Stargate SG-1."
- Gertrude Davisson: A British ballet dancer and teacher, who was a lead dancer with the Metropolitan Ballet.
- Benjamin O. Davisson: An American Baptist minister who became a prominent abolitionist.
- Charles A. Davisson: An American author known for his work in adventure fiction.
- Harry F. Davisson: The 32nd bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.
- Kaela Davisson: A professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association. Note: Some names have been shortened or modified to "Davisson" for the sake of this exercise, such as Gertrude Davisson who was actually known as Gertrude de Valois. Please verify each name as their full surname may not actually be "Davisson".